by Alex Lukeman
She looked at herself in the mirror and saw nothing unusual staring back at her, no indication anything had changed. But she knew something had. She'd stop by the pharmacy later and pick up a test. There was no point in talking about it with Nick until she knew for certain.
She came out of the bathroom.
"What's going on?"
"I think I picked up a stomach bug, maybe a touch of flu. It's giving me a headache."
She did have a headache, but it wasn't because she thought she had flu.
Nick said, "We have to plan the mission."
"I'll be fine. Stop by a drugstore and I'll pick up some aspirin."
"There's a big pharmacy in that shopping center we pass on the way in. They'll have whatever you need."
Yes, they will.
"We'd better get going," Nick said.
At the shopping center, Nick waited in the car while Selena went inside. She bought two pregnancy tests and a small bottle of aspirin. Walking back to the car, she hoped she was wrong. Her mind sorted through scenarios where she was pregnant, with no good result. She was glad when they arrived at Project HQ. It meant she could turn her attention to something impersonal, something she understood.
The team waited for the briefing to begin. Nick settled in at Elizabeth's desk as his phone indicated a call from her.
"Morning, Director."
"Good morning, Nick. I'm being discharged today. More accurately, I'm discharging myself. But that's not the only reason I'm calling. I had a conversation a few minutes ago with General Vysotsky."
"Vysotsky? What did he want?"
Elizabeth told him. Then she said, "Vysotsky has made Selena's sister responsible for overseeing their end of the operation."
"Valentina? You're kidding."
"No, I'm not. We're going to have to coordinate the mission with the Russians. I want you to call Vysotsky and begin the process."
"Shouldn't we wait until you get back?"
"I'll be here for a few hours yet. The doctors insist on another bank of tests before they'll let me go. We need to get on this right away."
"All right."
Elizabeth gave Vysotsky's contact information to Nick.
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Get ready to go to Korea. While you're doing that, I need to clear this with the President."
"Copy that, Director."
He set the phone down on the desk. Everyone was looking at him.
"What's that about Valentina and Vysotsky?" Selena said.
"Harker just talked to him. It seems our good friend Chairman Yun plans to put a hydrogen bomb into orbit over us and set off an EMP explosion. A big one."
"That would wipe out the grid," Ronnie said.
"That guy is a looney tune," Lamont said.
"Vysotsky wants us to form a joint mission with one of their Spetsnaz teams and take out Yun's rocket before he can launch. Harker wants me to call him. Valentina is going to be in command of the Russians."
"Oh, that's just great," Selena said.
"Why are the Russians warning us about it?" Lamont asked. "They'd be happy to see us taken off the board."
"If that bomb goes off, Vysotsky thinks we'll retaliate with a nuclear strike on North Korea. He's worried it would lead to war with China, and that Russia would be dragged in."
"He's right," Ronnie said. "We'd hit them with everything we had."
"He's also right it would lead to war with China," Selena said. "Russia couldn't escape getting caught up in it. No one would win."
"We have a firm target. Vysotsky told Harker the bomb is going to be launched from Musudan-ri."
Musudan-ri is no longer known by that designation. It has been renamed Tonghae.
"Whatever it's called, we're going to destroy it. Freddie, bring up a map of the region and satellite photos of the target."
The map and pictures appeared on the monitor screen. The launch facility was located in the northeast of the country, a short distance inland from the Sea of Japan and not far from the Kamchatka Peninsula, near Vladivostok. The area surrounding the launch site was gently rolling, sparsely populated, and covered with snow.
"Sure wish this target was somewhere warm," Lamont said.
"Not exactly Cape Canaveral," Ronnie said.
"By our standards it's primitive, but it's good enough for them to put a satellite into orbit." Nick took a laser pointer off the desktop and clicked it on. The red dot moved across the screen.
"I took a look at this yesterday, when we weren't sure which of their sites would be the target. You can see the launch pad and the gantry and tower next to it. That road leading away to the south goes to launch control, this building here."
The laser dot moved.
"This small building with the radar tower is the control station for their anti-aircraft missile batteries. The low buildings to the west are assembly sheds. They built a new addition not long ago. It's a little over thirty meters long. That's the exact height of the launch tower. Their rocket is still in that building."
He moved the pointer.
"This construction over here is for a new, larger facility. Those structures don't concern us. Our target is the assembly building and the tower. If the rocket is already on the launch pad, we forget about the assembly building."
"What's that building in the lower left corner of the picture?" Selena asked.
"I was going to talk about that next. It's a barracks for a company of special forces soldiers. Mostly they patrol the road coming in from the coast. They're under strength but we don't want to tangle with them."
"When were these pictures taken?" Ronnie asked.
These photographs were taken twelve hours, thirty-four minutes and six seconds ago.
"How long does it take to set up and fuel?" Selena asked.
Positioning the rocket for launch and fueling takes approximately two days.
"We need a more recent shot," Lamont said.
Accessing.
Seconds later a new shot of the launch site appeared on the monitor. This picture showed a transporter hauling a long, shrouded shape from the assembly building.
The size and shape of the covered launch vehicle in the photo suggests that it is an Unha-3. It is a three stage rocket used in the past by the North Koreans to place weather satellites in orbit. It must be fueled shortly before launch and is highly unstable.
"I don't see any permanent fueling facility," Lamont said. "They must bring in fuel with tankers."
"We can target the trucks," Ronnie said. "They're bombs on wheels."
"Ought to make a hell of a bonfire," Lamont said.
"We have to get on site first," Nick said.
"Russia isn't far from the target," Selena said. "It would be easier to stage from there than from Japan."
Nick fiddled with the pointer. "Until I talk with the Russians we can't pin down details. But we can get the logistics ready. It's cold over there right now. You three put together what we need for personal gear. Pack one of our AT-4's. Take plenty of C4 and our own detonators. The Russians will have theirs but I want to work with our own stuff."
"When are we leaving?" Selena asked.
"The target's on the other side of the world. Plan on wheels up early tomorrow."
CHAPTER 29
Vladimir Orlov listened to General Vysotsky explain his plan. Pale winter sunlight streamed through the windows of Vladimir Orlov's Kremlin office, the kind of light that cast no warmth.
"You should have come to me before you contacted Harker," Orlov said.
"I apologize, Mister President. I wanted to be sure she would cooperate before I informed you. Our interactions with them in the past have been successful. It's an unusual situation, I admit, but common threats have made them useful allies in the past."
"This is the unit with Colonel Antipov's half-sister."
"Yes. Because of this, I want Colonel Antipov to command."
"As you are aware, she is not experienced in this kind of operation. Her skills a
re somewhat different."
"Yes, sir. Her second-in-command will be Major Vasiliev. He is an experienced Spetsnaz officer with extensive combat experience. I have instructed Colonel Antipov to defer to him in the field."
Orlov snorted. "Colonel Antipov does not strike me as someone who is likely to defer to anyone."
"I agree, but she will follow orders. She is the perfect officer to act as liaison with the Americans. It will help us avoid problems with them."
"Has Yun mounted his bomb on the launch vehicle?"
"We don't think so, but it's possible. We haven't seen anything to indicate that the bomb is on site but they've moved the rocket to the tower. It has not yet been placed in position. Once it's in position, we can be certain the missile is armed. Our source in Korea said there was a two week window to launch. That was ten days ago. Perhaps we have four days, but I want to destroy the facility as soon as possible."
"You are certain we need the assistance of the Americans."
"We don't need their assistance, Mister President, but I think we must include them. They believed Yun intended to launch a missile with a nuclear warhead and had decided to send in a covert team and destroy his facility. There could have been an incident if our forces and the Americans showed up at the same time. Better to work together for the common goal, than risk the possibility of confrontation and failure."
"Very well, you may proceed. Be sure there is nothing pointing back to us if things go wrong."
"There will be no indications we were ever there, Mister President."
"I am holding you personally accountable for the success of this mission."
"Yes, sir."
In other words, if things go wrong your next assignment will be in Siberia, Vysotsky thought. He's not going to like what I tell him next.
"There's another problem, Mister President."
Orlov gave Alexei a sour look. "What is it?"
"Since the elimination of Minister Sirco, Kiev has been stirring up the American press with rumors that we intend to invade."
"That's nothing new. The American press is irresponsible. We are not ready for a ground war in Ukraine, not after the Balkan fiasco."
The year before, Orlov had been tricked into believing he could invade the Baltic States without NATO response. It had almost started World War III. The Russian forces had retreated at the last moment.
"Just the same, I have learned that the Americans have started deploying their so-called 'European Missile Shield' in the Western region. It's a shore based version of their Aegis defense system."
Orlov's face tightened.
"They are being stupid. They know we can't let them place missiles so close to our borders. It is a deliberate provocation."
"Especially since we could easily destroy the emplacements."
"Sometimes I think it is their intention to begin a war with us."
"That is a war they would not win."
"No," Orlov said, "they would not. But neither would we."
"We must respond to their actions."
"Do not worry, General. Since they threaten us with force, we will do the same. I will order our SS-20 intermediate-range missiles deployed along the border. They threaten us, we will threaten Europe. Two can play the game."
"Those missiles are forbidden by treaty," Vysotsky said.
"Treaties are meant to be broken," Orlov said.
CHAPTER 30
China had many ears in North Korea. Word of Yun's plan to attack America had reached Beijing. There were unhappy senior officers in Yun's country, men who feared the next purge would remove them from their privileged positions of power. The execution of Admiral Hwan had sent shockwaves through the top ranks of the North Korean military. Hwan had been a respected and trusted officer. If the Chairman could turn on him, who would be next? One of those officers had made sure their Chinese ally knew of Yun's folly.
A decision had to be made. President Zhang Jei sipped tea while General Liu and Minister Deng waited for him to speak. Zhang set his cup down and dabbed at his lips with a linen cloth.
"It is tempting to allow the destruction of our enemy," Zhang said, "but 'Temptation wrings integrity, even as the thumbscrew twists a man's fingers.'"
"'It is on the path you do not fear, that the wild beast catches you'," Deng said. "It is certainly tempting. But if we allow Yun to destroy the American homeland, they will retaliate. They've based their nuclear weapons around the world, preparing for just such a contingency. They will be angry and turn North Korea into a wasteland. Angry people make mistakes. It will mean war, a war we cannot hope to win."
"I fear that Chairman Yun has reached the end of his usefulness as an ally," Zhang said. "More tea, General?"
Without waiting for a response, Zhang filled General Liu's cup.
"We cannot allow him to launch," Liu said.
"I agree. How do you think we should proceed?"
"I can place a South Blade unit on site. They will destroy his rocket before he can put it in the air."
Deng nodded. "A sensible solution. Afterward, we can deal with Yun."
"Are there any rules of engagement?" Liu asked.
"No one must know we were there," Zhang said. "Take any action necessary. If there is opposition, eliminate it."
"Prisoners might provide useful intelligence," Deng said.
"There is no provision for prisoners on an operation like this," Liu said.
"It doesn't have to be complicated," Deng said. "If you take prisoners, interrogate them and then kill them."
Liu grunted assent.
"How much time do you need for preparation, General?" Zhang asked.
"It requires some thought, but two days should be adequate. We need to study the target, brief the mission, and arrange logistics."
"We must make sure the weapon is destroyed," Deng said. "It's not enough to eliminate the launch facility. The bomb would not have been manufactured at the launch site. Yun will have to move it from wherever it is, install it on the launch vehicle, and make final adjustments."
"Establish twenty-four hour surveillance. General Liu, once we are certain the bomb has been moved to Musudan-Ri, send in your team."
"What about afterward?"
"What do you mean, General? Extraction of our forces? Surely, you can handle that."
"Not extraction, Mister President. I meant Yun. What are we going to do about him?"
"Chairman Yun will be very angry," Zhang said. "He will probably have one of his fits. Alas, such things are unpredictable. I have heard that the effects on one's health can be quite serious, even fatal."
CHAPTER 31
"I'm going to call Vysotsky," Nick said. "I'll put it on speaker, but I'd ask everyone to remain quiet. Especially you, Freddie."
As you wish.
It was odd to call up a Russian general, much less the director of Russia's foreign intelligence service. Speaking politely with one of America's principle enemies was something new in Nick's experience.
He's a smoothie, Harker had told him once. You can only trust him so far.
Nick entered Vysotsky's number on his satellite phone. The voice that answered was rough-hewn.
"Da."
"General Vysotsky, this is Nicholas Carter, acting for Director Harker. She has asked me to speak with you and coordinate our mission together."
"Major Carter. I have heard much about you. You and your team are well known here. Major Korov spoke highly of you."
"Arkady Korov was an outstanding officer," Nick said. "He had become a friend."
"Different uniforms are not always a barrier to friendship," Vysotsky said. "Circumstances can create alliances where none existed before."
"As seems to be the case again."
"As in the past, we find ourselves facing a common threat. Did Director Harker explain why I proposed a joint mission? Why I feel it's the best option?"
"She did. Since neither one of us would consider standing down regarding Yun, I agree it's best to av
oid any possibility of an incident between us."
"Good. I have spoken with President Orlov and he has given his blessing to the operation. You will be permitted to bring your team and weapons into our airspace. The nearest airbase to our objective is Petropavlosk-Kamchatsky, near Vladivostok."
"One moment, General. Let me pull up a map of the area."
Stephanie tapped on her keyboard. The map appeared.
"We can come in from Misawa Air Force Base in Japan," Nick said. "It's close, about five hundred miles by air."
"Be sure to let me know when you are about to take off," Vysotsky said. "Our air defense forces are efficient."
"Tell me what you have in mind, General. I understand that Colonel Antipov will be in command of your unit. Is that correct?"
Valentina was in Vysotsky's office, listening to the conversation.
"That is correct. She is here with me now. Is your team present at your end?"
"They are."
"Excellent. Valentina, say hello to your sister."
Valentina rolled her eyes. "Sister. You are well?"
Selena hadn't expected to hear Valentina's voice. "I am. And you?"
"It seems we will be seeing each other soon," Valentina said.
"There are things we should talk about," Selena said.
"If you wish. If there's time."
Vysotsky said, "Major Carter, how soon can you be here?"
"Thirty-six hours, tops. Possibly less."
"What is your information on the status of Yun's weapon?"
"We have the target under continuous satellite surveillance," Nick said. "So far, we do not believe the bomb has been brought to the site. Once it's there, we estimate a day to install it on the launch vehicle, then two days to prepare for launch. We still have a little time."
"That agrees with our own estimates. Once you arrive, we will have a detailed joint briefing. Valentina's second-in-command is one of my best officers, Major Vasiliev. He will be in charge of the assault. Colonel Antipov will be in overall command of the mission."
"I don't have a problem with your people being in charge," Nick said, "but we need to discuss it. I'm sure you're aware that clear boundaries of command in an operation like this are critical. If we get into a pissing match, it won't do anyone any good."